Sentence Correction

[preethinaidu11]

The physicist Richard Feynman presented a comprehensive introduction to modern physics designed for undergraduate students in a two-year course.


A)The physicist Richard Feynman presented a comprehensive introduction to modern physics designed for undergraduate students in a two-year course.

B)For undergraduate students, the physicist Richard Feynman presented a two-year course, being a comprehensive introduction to modern physics.

C)A comprehensive introduction was in a two-year course by the physicist Richard Feynman presenting to undergraduate students an introduction to modern physics.

D)Presenting a comprehensive introduction, the physicist Richard Feynman introduced modern physics in a two-year course designed for undergraduate students.

E)In a two-year course designed for undergraduate students, the physicist Richard Feynman presented a comprehensive introduction to modern physics.

[tim]

Before we help with this question, we need you to show some effort of your own. What did you try on this question? Where did you get stuck?

[preethinaidu11]

Hi Sir,

I am stuck between option A and E

[Anil]

Well, let me give it a try..

To me it looks like a misplaced modifier issue.. In option E,
"In a two-year course designed for undergraduate students, the physicist Richard Feynman presented a comprehensive introduction to modern physics."

the modifier is placed next to Fynman, the person who presented a comprehensive introduction. In option A, it seems that modern physics is the subject that is being addressed.

[tim]

let us know if there are any further questions on this one..

[jyothi h]

let us know if there are any further questions on this one..

I am confused between option A and option E too. I went for option A , cos option E had modifier issue as to , "In a two-year course designed for undergraduate students" is modifying Feynman as opposed "introduction to modern physics" . Although in option A , there was slight confusion about - "designed for undergraduate students" .It is unclear weather "modern physics" was designed or "introduction to modern physics" was designed(which makes more sense). But in option E , the opening modifier modifying Feynman doesn't make much sense. Anyways , I thought issue with option A was more subtle and went ahead with that.
I understand , option E is the correct answer. If there is a opening modifier , our first instinct is to check what the opening modifier is referring to and strike that option out if it has incorrect reference, which is what I thought was the case in option E.
Could you please throw some light on what exactly is wrong with option A and what is it that I went wrong in analyzing option E ?

Greatly appreciate any help on the above.
Thanks!

[tim]

option A has some ambiguous modifiers that we can't clear up, as we have discussed in the previous posts. with E, you have simply overlooked the possibility that the opening clause can be an adverbial modifier. if a clause won't work as a noun modifier but will word as an adverbial modifier, that means it works! this is true in general of SC - if one interpretation doesn't work but another does, it's okay. basically, give the sentence a chance to be correct if it wants to.. :)